Wayne Rooney has achieved superstar status with his amazing performances for England, grabbing the headlines and eclipsing the tournament's famous names such as Thierry Henry and Luis Figo.

As the 18-year-old thumped home two goals against Croatia on Tuesday night, his transition from mascot to megastar was complete.

And the ECHO has been there to chart the Croxteth-born young-ster's progress from the start.

Six years ago we first highlighted the teenage prodigy and tipped him as one to watch. And we've followed his incredible progress every step of the way.

In March, 1998, Wayne, then just 12, became one of three brothers to play for Everton FC's youth team for the first time in the club's history.

The club's head of youth development Ray Hall said of Wayne and brothers John, seven and Graham, 10: "They are all remarkably talented and who knows? One day they could be playing for the team itself."

By November, 2000, Wayne had fired his way into the England boys' side for a friendly with Wales.

And less than a year later, we told how "Roonaldo" chipped in a goal to help Everton's under-18s to a pre- season victory against Tranmere.

Just two months later he marked his 16th birthday with a four-goal burst which helped destroy Wrexham's under-19s 5-0.

The ECHO's match report on that day described Rooney as a "chief tormentor" and coach Colin Harvey said: "I've actually seen Wayne play a lot better than that, but he took his goals very well."

In April, 2002, he lost a bid to be Everton's youngest-ever first team player, when a call up to England's under-17 team ruled him out of the Blues' clash with Southampton.

But in October he scored his first goals for the senior Blues side against Wrexham. Weeks later, his stunning solo goal ended Arsenal's 30-game unbeaten run and Wayne went on to win the BBC's prestigious Young Sports Personality of the Year in December 2002.

And the ECHO was there when Wayne's lifelong dream came true, when he was handed his first contract with the club he loved in January, 2003, boosting his weekly wage from #92 to more than #10,000.

In February, 2003, Wayne was handed his first England cap against Australia before sealing his international status by bagging a goal against Macedonia to become England's youngest-ever goalscorer on September 6.

Roo would live in a house like this?>>>>

Roo would live in a house like this?>

WAYNE Rooney fans are queuing up to buy a #3m house next to the star - before it's been built.

The property would be a dream move for fans of the Everton and England striker because windows in the towering Georgian-style mansion will over-look his garden.

The 18-year-old striker spent #900,000 on his six-bedroom house in Formby earlier this year as the first home for him and fiancee Coleen McLoughlin.

The land next door was purchased by a property development company which is demolishing the existing house and building a new #3m property with seven bedrooms, three living rooms, a home cinema, and an indoor swimming pool.

Michael McCoomb, managing directors of developers Formby Hall Investments, said: "We have been inundated with inquiries from people who have heard about the house - many with serious offers.